Folding stretcher or cot.



No. 709,332. Patenfedsept. 16,' moz. J. H. Konus.

FOLDING STRETCHEH 0B COT.

(Appummnmea Mu. 14, 1902.)

v (no Model.)

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No. 799,332.V

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY KOONS, OF LEHIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSI-GNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HENRY SCHWARTZ, OF LEIIIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING STRETCHER OR COT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 709,332, dated September 16, 1902.'

` i Application led March 14, 1902. Serial No. 98,185. (No modelJ To all whom, it mfr/y concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN HENRY Koons, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ot' Lehighton, in Vthe county of Carbon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new `and Improved Folding Stretcher or Cot, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX act description;

The object of the invention is to provide a o` new and improved folding stretcher, cot, or l like article which is simple and durable in construction, easily set up, with the parts securely locked against accidental closing,

and adapted to be folded into a comparatively small space for storing or transportation purposes.

. The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as `will be more fully Vdescribed hereinafter and zo then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specilication, in which` similar characters of reference indicate cor- `z5 responding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement in an extended position.` Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side elevation of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 isan in- 3b verted plan View of the same, partly closed.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sctionof the improvement on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified form of the hinge-lock for the cross-bars; and Fig. 6

is a side elevation of another modilied form of ahinge-lock, `parts being shown in section.

The' side rails A of the stretcher, cot, or like article are connected with each other by a suitable cover B, made of canvas, leather,

4o or other similar flexible material, and the said rails are also connected with each other at their ends by cross-bars C, each made in sections O O2, hinged together at C3 and hinged to keepers D, secured to the side rails In order to lock the sections O and C2 in position when in .alinenient with each other,

as shown in Figs. 1 2, and 4, I provide a locking device consisting preferably of a bar E, secured to the section C2 and carrying at 5o its free end a spring-catch E', adapted to engage the wall of an aperture in the other section O to hold the sections O and C2 locked together when extended in a transverse direction, as plainly indicated in Fig. 1. It is understood that the bar E extends from the section C2 past the hinge C3 onto the other section C', so that its spring-catcl1 E' can engage the section O' to lock the sections to gether.

Vhen it is desired to fold the device, then 6o the operator moves themspring-catch E' out oi engagement with the section O' to .allow the sections O' and O2 of the cross-bnr to swing into a closed position in an inward direction, asindicated in Fig. 3. Each section of a cross-bar is pivotally connected by a link F with a leg G, pivoted to the corresponding side rail/A, the arrangement being such that when the cross-bars are in a folded position then the legs G are folded upon the 7o side rails, and when the device is set up and the side-rails A are moved apart to swing the sections C' and'C2 of the cross-bars into an extended position then the said" links F impart a swinging motion to the legs G, so as to swing the latter into an extended position-thatis, into an angular position relative to the side rails-to support the rails and cover a distance above the ground, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. `2 8o and 4.

Each of the links F is preferably made in three sections F, F2, and F2, of which the sections F' and F2 are connected with each other by a hinge F4, and the sections F2 and 85 F3 are similarly connected with each other by a hinge F5, extending at angles, however, to the hinge F4. (See Fig. 2.) The section F is pivoted on the corresponding cross-bar sec tion O or C2, and the section F3 is likewise 9o pivoted on the corresponding leg G; but the pivots of the sections F and F3 extend at angles to each other-that is, the pivot for the section F stands vertically, while that for the section F3 stands transversely, as will be read- 95 ily seen by reference to Fig. 2. It is understood that by making the links.F in themanner described an easy and free movement of the sections of the cross-bar and the legs G is possible, so that the legs G swing readily roo into a folded position on closing the cross-bar sections, and when the device is set up and the rails are moved apart then the cross-bar sections are readily extended and pull by the links F on the legs G, so as to swing the latter into an active angular position relative to the side rails A.

The locking device for locking the sections C' and C2 in an extended position maybe dit'- ferently constructed-for instance, as shown locked in an extendedor'alined position.

In the modified form shown in Fig. .6 the bar E5, secured to the section C', is provided at its free end with a pivoted catch E, adapted to engage the section C2, the catch being pressed on by a spring E7to normally hold the catch in'engagement with the section C2. In either case, however, the locking device serves to hold the-sections C and C2 in an alined transverse position to hold the side rails A the desired distance apart-that is, with the coverB properly stretched from one side rail to the other.

In order to accommodate the spring-catch E when the device is folded, I form the legs G and rails A with apertures (see Fig. 2) for the spring-catch to pass in on moving the rails A into a closed position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secu re by Letters Patent- 1. A folding stretcher, cot or like article, comprising side rails, a-flexible cover secured to the side rails, cross-bars made in sections hinged together and pivoted to theside rails, legs hinged on the side rails, and links connecting the cross-bars with' the said legs, to swing the latter into a closed position on moving the rails toward each other to fold the device, and to swing the legs into an angular active position on moving the rails apart, as set forth.

2. A folding stretcher, cot or like article, comprising side rails, a flexible cover secured to the side rails, cross-bars for connecting the side rails with each other, each cross-bar being made in sections pivoted together and to the side rails by vertical pivots, legs hinged to the side rails, and sectional links, each pivoted to a leg by a horizontal pivot and to a A.section of the cross-bar by a vertical pivot, as

set forth.

3. A folding stretcher, cot or like article, comprising side rails, a flexible cover secured to the side rails, cross-bars for connecting the side rails with each other, each cross-bar being made in sections pivoted together and to the side rails by vertical pivots, legs hinged to the side rails, and sectional links, each connecting a leg with a section of the cross-bar, each link being made of three sections connected with each other by hinges and pivoted to the cross-bar sections by vertical pivots and to the legs by horizontal pivots, as set forth.

4. A folding stretcher, cot or like article, comprising side rails, a ilexible cover secured to the side rails, cross-bars for connecting the side rails with each other, each cross-bar being made in sections pivoted together and to the'side rails by vertical pivots, legs hinged to t-he side rails, sectional and pivoted links, each link being pivoted to a\leg byahorizontalpivot and to a section of the cross-bar by a vertical pivot, and a locking device for each cross-bar, to lock the sections thereof in an l extended position, as set forth.

5. A folding stretcher, cot or like article, comprising side rails, a flexible cover secured to the side rails, cross-bars for connecting the side rails with each other,' each cross-bar being made in sections pivoted together and to the side rails by vertical pivots, legs hinged to the side rails, sectional links pivoted to` gether by pivots at right angles to each other, each link being pivoted to a leg by a horizontal pivot and to a section of the cross-bar by a vertical pivot, and a locking device for each cross-bar, to lock the sections thereof in an extended position, each locking device consisting of a bar fastened to one section and having means at its free end to engage the other section of the cross-bar to lock the sections in alinement, as set forth.

6. In a folding stretcher, cot or the like, the combination with side rails having openings therein and legs pivoted to the side rails adjacent to the openings thereof and provided with an opening near its pivoted end, of sectional and hinged cross-bars pivoted at their ends to the side bars, one section of said bars being provided with an opening, a bar se- JOHN HENRY KOONS.

Witnesses:

JOHN JACOB KUTz, CHARLESv AUGUST WAGNER.

IIO 

